10 most amazing Bollywood films of 2013

As 2013 draws to a close, we at THE REEL OBSERVER have planned to bring out the best and worst of Bollywood that has been served to the audience.

The first section is going to be focusing on the 10 most amazing films made this year. (Commercial performance of a film has not been used as a criterion in judging the films. So all you superstar fans have a reason to be disappointed :P)

10. GO GOA GONE / WAR CHODD NA YAR

The 10th spot is shared by 2 films that have been the genre openers in Bollywood.

Ever seen a ZOM-COM in Bollywood?? Go Goa Gone was our answer to some amazing Zombie Comedy capers already made in the west.

Filled with superb performances, witty one-liners, slick direction, stupendous editing and a great sound-track Go Goa Gone was a laugh riot. All at the dead man's expense!

Ever seen a WAR-COM in Bollywood? War Chodd Na Yar was one hell of a movie! Portraying comedy out of a patriotic theme is no easy task. Though not at the level of The Dictator, WCNY was extremely effective. If the theme and the set up do not seem funny enough, Mukul Dev Sanjay Mishra and Javed Jaffery will surely have you falling off your seats. This film could have been a genuine commercial success had it been backed by an able distributor and a more effective marketing campaign.

9. DAVID

Bejoy Nambiar's second venture saw accolades coming in from audiences and critics alike. The film seamlessly focused on 3 time zones, 3 separate stories and 3 different characters. Amazingly shot, with performances to die for, David emerged as one of those rare Bollywood films that are high on substance as well as style. Despite being an extremely stylish narrative, David could not be commercially successful as the target audience was a very niche segment.

8. RAM-LEELA

Alright, there were mixed views about this film from the audiences and the critics alike. But one cannot deny the fact that it was one of the most beautiful looking films made this year. The sets, costumes, music, performances, dances, everything had the SLB's stamp of grandeur posted on it. With Deepika growing into a fine performer with every film, Ranveer Singh can now be counted as the next big thing in the industry! The concluding scene of the film still gives me goosebumps when i think about it.

  

7. YEH JAWANI HAI DEEWANI

This film can boast of a unanimous response from the audiences and the critics alike. Everyone liked this film. There wasn't a thing one could possibly not like about YJHD. Well they say in the industry that Ranbir can hardly go wrong. He never does! This film had everything. From being a teenager's fantasy to being a more emotionally matured narrative, YJHD did strike a chord with everyone at some point of time. With Chartbuster songs, sparkling chemistry and some excellent direction made YJHD one of the most successful films of 2013.

6. KAI PO CHE

We have always read poetry, heard people reciting it. But to see poetry in motion is truly a revelation of sorts. This is exactly what KAI PO CHE delivers. A richly detailed, soothingly emotional and a BRO-MANTIC tale of three friends took us on a journey which made us root for every character. The film was based on Chetan Bhagat's best selling novel 3 MISTAKES OF MY LIFE. Kai Po Che was the biggest surprise film this year. 3 relatively new faces, a detailed script and refreshing performances!! One of the finer feel-good-films that I have seen in recent times.

5. MADRAS CAFE

Madras cafe came across as a film which silenced everyone with its sincerity to showcase good cinema. Madras Cafe revisited the period from 1986 to 1991 and showcased probably the darkest phase in the history of our neighbouring nation and its repercussions on our country. Madras Cafe opened up a disturbing chapter in the human history. It also opened up the gates for filmmakers to make films which made sense. It opened up the gates for the filmmakers willing to tell the stories that needed to be told.

Madras Cafe deserved an audience.

The film ended with Tagore's lines (mouthed by John)..Where the head is held high..and the mind is without fear...

Madras cafe was a thoughtful cinematic experience.

4. SHIP OF THESEUS

Words wouldn't suffice the praise that this film deserves. Watch it to believe it. One of the finest indie films that have released this year, both in terms of content and context. Thought provoking cinema at its very best.

3. THE LUNCHBOX

There are certain films which are made to delight the audience. With accolades coming from world over, The Lunchbox was a very fine film, evolving in its own space and probably redefining the clichéd notions that we had in our minds about love. A fascinating narrative pattern, superlative performances and a rare use of imageries made The Lunchbox a film to savour for a long long time.

2. BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG

One simply cannot afford to miss watching Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, purely because it is an essential part of the rarity of athletic glory that we posses, for the sheer hard work that has been put into making this film, for feeling proud about yourself, for not being affected by distractions and being a better human being. No praise is sufficient enough for Farhan Akhtar. Living the role they call it. And he has done precisely that.

Life is never about owning big things. It is about dreaming big and keeping the smaller elements in place; the bigger picture, automatically, will become glorious.

1. LOOTERA

This is one film that made me feel like being in love throughout its runtime. Adapted from the short story The Last Leaf, Lootera was simply a superlative cinematic experience. Sonakshi performed exceptionally well, Ranveer, well he carried the film on his shoulders! Amit Trivedi churned out a brilliant music album, the art direction was out of the world and one thing that I realized once Lootera was aired on T.V, it has tremendous repeat value. Art finally found acceptance in Indian Cinema; though not the kind of thundering success in monetary terms but in terms of the positive vibe that the movie generated.  Vikramaditya Motwane proved that Udaan was no fluke and to me Lootera was the best film made this year.

(There were other films as well that caught our attention..

-Jolly LLb -Special26-Inkaar -B.A Pass-Shahid -D-day)

Feel free to comment about your pick for the 10 most amazing films made in 2013.